Vending machine



Patented Oct. 12, 1926. x

UNITED STATES 1,602,765 PATENT OFFICE.

HUBER-T S. GREEN AND JAMES L. MAGNER, OF SAN IBERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 9, 1924. Serial No. 718,900.

Our invention relates to and has for its purpose the provision of a vending machine of extremely simple, durable and efiicient constructiomwhich is particularly adapted,

: although not necessarily, for the vending of the cores of tire valves.

It is also a purpose of our invention to provide a vending machine for valve cores including a reciprocable ejector adapted to be'operated by an actuator for effecting the single delivery of the valve cores to a delivery chute from a magazine in which the cores are stored, the actuator being normally disconnected from the ejector and adapted to be operatively connected to the ejector only when a coin is deposited into the machine. Further, the invention embodies means by which the coin is displaced from between the actuator and ejector after an actuation of the ejector has been effected.

We will describe only one form of vending machine embodying our invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of vending machine embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the vending machine shown in Fi ure 1;

igure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the ejecting mechanism, with the ejector in ejecting position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fi 'ure 3.

Similar reference haracters refer to similar parts in each of the several views of the drawing.

Referring specifically to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 2, our invention in its present embodiment comprises a casi'ng K, having an open rear side normally closed by a door or panel 15, such panel being secured in closed position by means of pins 16 and a lock 17. Through this open rear side access is had to a magazine M in the form of a vertically disposed channel bar having inturned flanges 18 for confining the articles to be vended in horizontal and superimposed positions. As previously mentioned, the machine is designed for the vending of valve cores and,- in practice, these cores are encased in small tubular cartons, indicated at 19, so as to prevent injury to the cores and facilitate their ejection from the magazine and their passage through the delivery chute of the machine. The lower end of the magazine M is closed across its rear side by means of a plate 20, while the lower end of the channel bar is provided with a forward extension 21 that co-operates with the horizontal portion of a platform P to provide a passageway in which an ejector bar E is adapted to slide. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the lower end of the magazine M is open, that is to say, in communication with the passageway formed between the platform and the extension 21 so that when the magazine is filled or partly filled with valve cores the lowermost core will be disposed within the passageway. A gate 22 is hingedly supported upon a bracket 23 secured to the plate 20, and this gate is provided with an arm 24 to which is connected a spring 25 for returning the gate to closed position. In the closed position of the gate the lowermost valve core is prevented from being discharged from the adjacent'end ofthe passageway, as will be understood. A de livery chute S has an open upper end which, in the open position of the gate 22, has communication with the adjacent end of the passageway so as to receive the valve core ejected from the magazine and deliver the same to a cup C in communication with the lower end of the chute and disposed at the front side of the casing. It is to be noted that the upper end of the chute is cut away to allow unrestricted opening of the gate 22, and that the spring 25 is connected to an ear 26 formed on the chute.

The platform P is provided with depend ing flanges 27 secured to the confronting sides of the casing K by screws or other suitable fastening members. The passage-' way in which the ejector E is adapted to slide is continued beyond the extension 21 by a cross frame 28 (Figure 4) arranged in spaced relation to the extension as shown. The ejector E is normally urged to a retracted position as shown in Figure 2, by means of a spring 29 connected to a pin 30 secured to the ejector bar at a point between the extension 21 and the frame 28 and a pin 31 secured to the frame 28. Metal straps 21 are secured to the platform P and to the cross frame 28 for limiting the retracted position of the ejector bar under the action of the spring 29.

.Assho'wn in Figures 3 and 5, an actuator designated generally at A. is provided with a rod 532 which extends through the front side of the casing and is slidably fitted in a sleeve 33. l ts outer end is provided with a rod 34- which is adz'uiited to be manually gripped for pushing the rod, and consequently the actuator, inwardly to client operation of the ejector bar E. Inward movc ment of the actuator is against the tension of a spring 35 connected to a pin 36 secured to the actuator and an eye 37 secured to the inner side of the casing. The actuator, as shown in Figure 5, is of inverted tJ-form in cross section and is slidably fitted between the platform P and a plate 38 provided with upstandingguide flanges 39 which co-operate with depending flanges 4!) formed on the under side of the actuator and movable etwecn the flanges 39 in guiding the actuator in its reciprocating 1nove ment. The flanges 39 are extended forwardly of the plate 38 and are soldered or otherwise secured to the under side of the platform 1. [is illustrated to advantage in Figure (3, the actuator is cut away at its inner end, and the guide flanges 40 are extended beyond such cut away portion. Between the flanges lO a slot is provided which is adapted to register with a slot 4-1 formed in the platform P, and in these slots a coin, designated at 42, is adapted to momcntarily repose to provide an operative connection between the actuator and the ejector. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the delivery end of a coin chute T is disposed in overlying relation to the slot 41 of the platform P, and its upper end is extended through the front-side of the casing K to provide a slot in which a coin is deposited, as will be understood.

In operation, the vending mechanism normally occupies the position shown in l-igure 2, the ejector bar E being yieldably retained in retracted position by the spring 529, and the actuator A being yieldably retained in a position in which the rod 32 is projected from the casing by means of a spring 35. In the vending of a valve core, a com is deposited in the chute T, such coin gravitating to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, in which it is disposed within the slots of the actuator and platform and between the ejector bar and actnator so as to provide an operative connection between the two. With the coin in this position it will be clear that by pushing the rod 32 inwardly a corresponding movement is imparted to the actuator A and this movement is in turn imparted to the ejector bar E to cause its forward end to engage the lowermost valve core and force the same from the platform. As the valve core advances the gate opens against the tension of the spring 25 so as to allow the core to be depositeo into the upper end of the dc- ]ivery chute S. From this point the valve core gravitatcs into the cup (l to be re moved therefrom by the purchaser. During movement of the actuator A. the coin, is advanced over and off of the plate 38, as clearly shown in l igure 3, when the coin is free to drop from the mechanism into the bottom of the casing K. rod is relieved of inward pressure the springs 29 and 35 operate to return the ejector bar and actuator to the normal position shown in Figure 2, when the machine is ready for the reception of a second coin and a second actuation of the actuator and ejector bar to eject the succeeding valve core from the lower end of the magazine M.

Although we have herein shown and de scribed only one form of vending machine embodying our invention, it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A vending machine comprising a casing, a magazine for the articles to be vended arranged in the casing, a platform at the lower end of the magazine upon whiehthe lowermost article is adapted to repose, a delivery chute communicating with the lower end of the magazine, an extension formed on the lower end of the magazine and oven lying the platform, a cross frame secured to the casing, an ejector bar slidable on the platform between the latter and the extension, pins secured to the ejector and cross frame, a spring connecting the pins and operating to normally urge the ejector bar to a retracted position, an actuator normally disconnected from the ejector and yieldingly urged in one extreme position, slots formed in the platform and actuator for the reception of a coin in such manner that the latter forms an operative connection between the actuator and the ejector bar, so that when the actuator is moved away from the extended position the ejector will be moved to projected position.

2. A vending machine comprising a casing, a magazine in the casing for the articles to be vended, a platform upon which the lowermost article in the magazine reposes, a delivery chute, a cross frame spanning the casing, an ejector bar movable on the platform to occupy a projected position in which the lowermost article is ejected from the platform, a spring for yieldingly retaining the eject-or bar in retracted position. an ac tuator normally disconnected from the ejector and yieldingly urged in one extreme As soon as the position, slots formed in the platform and actuator for the reception of a coin in such manner that the latter forms an operative connection between the actuator and the ejector bar, so that when the actuator is moved away from the extreme position the ejector will be moved to projected position.

3. A vending machine comprising a casing, a magazine in the casing for the storage of the articles to be vended, a platform upon which the lowermost article in the magazine reposes, a delivery chute, an ejector bar movable on the platform to occupy a projected position in which the lowermost article is ejected from the platform, a spring for yieldingly retaining the ejector bar in retracted position, an actuator normally disconnected from the ejector and yieldably urged to one extreme position and slots formed in the platform and actuator for receiving a coin in such manner that the latter provides an operative connection between the actuator and the ejector bar so that when the actuator is moved away from the extreme position the ejector will be moved to projected position.

4. A vending machine comprising a cas ing, a magazine for the storage of the articles to be vended, a platform upon which the lowermost article in the magazine reposes, a delivery chute, an ejector bar movable on the platform to occupy a projected position for ejecting the lowermost article rom the platform, a cross frame connected to the casing, pins secured to the cross frame and ejector bar, a spring connecting the pins for yieldingly retaining the ejector bar in retracted position, an actuator normally disconnected from the ejector and yieldingly urged to one extreme position, and slots formed in the platform and actuator for receiving a coin to provide an operative connection between the actuator and the ejector, so that upon the movement of the actuator away from the extreme position the ejector will be moved to rojected position.

- BERT S. GREEN. JAMES L. MAGNER. 

